WENATCHEE — A downtown youth outreach center serving hundreds of high-risk teens could take a major step this month toward adding a homeless shelter, but only if donations materialize.

Solomon’s Porch, which offers respite and counseling for wayward youths age 13 to 20, has a “guardian angel donor who will match December contributions dollar for dollar,” said Desiree Knemeyer, 26, program director for the facility. “It’s a huge opportunity that could bring us closer to our outreach goals.”

The donor, who asked to remain anonymous, issued the fundraising challenge to kick-start the center’s efforts to pay off its mortgage and renovate some of its downtown space into a full-service shelter, she said. The shelter would have overnight accommodations for four males and four females in separate, supervised areas and include bathrooms, a commercial kitchen and construction of a new interior stairway.

Operating on a 2009 budget of $37,000, the nonprofit Solomon’s Porch owns its Mission Street storefront but still owes $120,000 on the prime downtown location. Shelter renovations, even with donated labor and materials, could cost thousands of dollars, said Knemeyer.

Grants from the city of Wenatchee and the Community Foundation — including some matching funds from the Gates Foundation — should be available early next year, said Knemeyer, “but our anonymous donor wanted to get started raising money right now.”

The center also raises money a variety of ways, including the sale of knitted accessories — hats, scarves, mittens, gloves — made by Love’s Many Cloths, an East Coast group of charity crafters who donate handmade items for fundraisers. Knemeyer said Solomon’s Porch has earned almost $1,000 from the sale of the knitted goods in the last few months.

Realistically, build-out of the shelter is probably one or two years away, Knemeyer said. “So we plan to use our fundraising and planning as a longterm exercise (for youth) in setting goals and moving towards them. This way, the kids can get first-hand experience in an important life lesson.”

Every week, the interdenominational center welcomes scores of youth — hungry, homeless, abandoned, pregnant or involved with drugs or risky sexual behavior — and provides them, said Kneymeyer, with the food, guidance and hope to help them reshape their lives. In 2009, she said, the facility’s list of kids “who have been thrown away, who don’t know where to turn” topped more than 500 individuals, almost all of them from Chelan and Douglas counties.

“It’s heartbreaking to close our doors at night on youth who have no place to go,” said Knemeyer. “They might stay with a series of friends — they call it ‘couch surfing’ — but sometimes, for some kids, there’s no place to go.”

Activities at the center include approved video games, card and board games, themed parties (Christmas, Super Bowl) and a variety of live music, including local and regional bands.

Solomon’s Porch staffers are Christians, said Knemeyer, “but we don’t preach.” The facility works closely with Serve Wenatchee Valley, the umbrella group for area churches, and receives some donations and monetary support from a few local congregations, she added.

“They believe in the work we’re doing,” said Knemeyer, “which is to help these kids who are struggling to grow up way too fast. Everyday, they’re battling between being a kid and being an adult.”

She paused for a second and stared out at the street. “Who knows? Maybe we’re their last chance to have a healthy adult relationship, to learn that people are good and loving and can offer help and hope.”

Mike Irwin: 665-1179

irwin@wenatcheeworld.com